AFT Local 3695

Little causes trepidation more than when, amid economic cutbacks, the human resources department calls for a meeting. That's when the value of both a strong collective bargaining agreement and co-workers with a commitment to solidarity becomes acutely clear. We're highlighting a higher education professional's personal experience in these precise circumstances to demonstrate that the “U and I in Union” is how members can effectively maintain job security.

Union members late last month celebrated the announcement of an immediate end to the terms "essential" and "nonessential" in public references to the state workforce. The news followed the labor movement's coordinated efforts to resist language that had for years devalued thousands of working women and men across Connecticut. More than symbolism, the executive order replacing the antiquated terminology demonstrates the true strength of the 'U' and 'I' in 'union' at a critical time for all public employees.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard oral arguments in a corporate-funded lawsuit aimed directly at public employees across the country. That afternoon in Connecticut, union members gathered at simultaneous demonstrations to show the case's backers that working people aren’t backing down. All this took place as our state federation's leaders moved forward a plan to build greater strength for the future, regardless of the high court's ruling.

Following intense pressure to reject a damaging state budget narrowly adopted by lawmakers two weeks earlier, the governor on Thursday vetoed the toxic fiscal package produced by Republican legislative leadership. The action came after unions joined advocates for demonstrations and speak-outs across the state demanding better choices than failed and painful austerity policies. Our members played a vital role, turning up their efforts following a telephone town hall last weekend where the focus was on planning our next steps.

The governor and lawmakers from both parties this past week released three separate proposals for narrowing wider state budget gaps anticipated in the next two fiscal years. These political leaders once again failed to offer long-term solutions that would grow the economy or commonsense strategies to stop endless cycles of deficits. Instead, their latest proposals rely heavily on austerity policies that would unfairly balance the budget on the backs of working families.

Thousands of union members last week packed the Legislative Office Building (LOB) in Hartford to express their opposition to a dozen bills threatening a voice for all working people. The legislation — all sponsored by Republican lawmakers — drew condemnation from a diverse cross-section of the state's labor movement. Public employees in particular turned out in force to denounce the most egregious proposals jeopardizing their fundamental collective bargaining rights.

The landscape of America's working world continues to shift, with the number of unstable — and, often, part-time — jobs, low pay and exploitative conditions increasing at a rapid rate. At a daylong Washington, D.C., conference earlier this month, union leaders, policy experts and academics examined the contingent labor force and how to ensure fair working conditions for all. Much of the discussion centered on the issues impacting higher education adjunct faculty and graduate student employees; two groups participating in a "day of action" next month here in Connecticut.

The crisis of student debt is holding back millions of Americans, and our union is taking it on not only on a policy level, but one borrower at a time. AFT has begun holding student debt workshops to help individuals drop hundreds of dollars from their monthly loan payments and even qualify for loan forgiveness.

As the week set aside each year to recognize the nation's public service workforce comes to a close, we're highlighting several state employees concerned about Connecticut's future. Each plays a unique role in contributing to our state's quality of life, but they all share similar worries over proposed budget cuts to safety, health and education services.

Jan Hochadel, president of AFT Connecticut, made the following statement in response to Gov. Malloy and state Senate leaders' remarks about the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA) members' recently ratified contract:

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